Thread-waxing device



Nov. 6, 1928.

E. J. RAY

THREAD WAXING DEVICE 2 Sheets--Sheerl Vl 36 Filed Dec. v. 1922A -79 76 90 64K E. J. RAY

' THREAD WAXING DEVVIGE Nov. 6, 1928.

2 Sheetsy-Sheet Filed Deo. 7, .1922

Patented Nov. 6, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE J'. RAY, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED SHOE MACHIN- ERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 'OF NEW JERSEY.

THREADeWAXING DEVICE.

Application led December 7, 1922 Serial No. 605,542.

This invention relates to devices for applying wax to sewing thread.

In applying wax to sewing thread, it is important, in order that the wax may impregnate thoroughly the thread, that the wax in the wax receptacle, at least along the path which the thread traverses in passing through the wax receptacle, be maintained in a thon oughly melted condition. It has been a difficult prob-lem to keep the wax at all times in this condition without ove-rheating the same. Vith the heating devices heretofore employed, in come cases the heating device fails to keep the wax at a sufficiently high temperature and in others the Wax is burned or boils over because of the excessive heat developed.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction and mode of operation of thread waxing devices in which the heating of the wax is controlled by thermostatically operated mechanism.

With this' object in vview the invention consists in the novel and improved features, constructions, and combination of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the advantages of which will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

This invention will be readily understood from the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention in its preferred form and the following detailed description of the construction therein shown.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, of the improved thread waxing device; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional viewof the thread guiding devices, wax heating devices and the thermostatically operated mechanism taken on a plane at rightl angles to that of Fig. l; Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views in plan and vertical section, respectively, illustrating an adjustment in the connections between the movable contact member of the tliermostatically operated Switch and the heat responsive member; Fig.

5 is a plan view4 of the thread waxing device illustrating the thermostatically operated mechanism for controlling the heating of the wax in'one position of operation; and Fig. 6 is a partial plan view illustrating the thermostatically operated mechanism in a di'erent position of operation.

This application, so far as it discloses the subject matter of application Ser. No. 399,281,

filed July 27, 1920, is a continuation of said application.

The wax receptacle, thread guiding devices, wax heating devices and the thermostatically operated mechanism for cont-rolling the heating of the wax are carried by a bracket or support 2 secured to the fra-Ine or column of the sewing or other machine in connection with which the thread waxing device is to be used. The support 2 is provided with a flat plate-like portion 4' which constitutes the cover of the wax receptacle. The wax receptacle indicated at 6 is mounted on a vertical rod 8 lixed at its upper end to the support 2 and provided with a split clamp 10 and clamping' screw 12 by means of whichv it may be secured in different vertical positions upon the rod 8. The wax receptacle 6 is normally secured on the rod 8 in the position shown in Fig. 1, in which position the top of the receptacle is closed by the cover plate `4. One portion 9 of the plate 4 is hinged and permits, when raised, introduction of fresh lumps of the Wax into the receptacle.

The mechanism for heating the wax in the receptacle comprises two heating coils 13 received within a hollow column 16 secured by screws 18 to the under side of the cover plate 4, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower port-ion of the column V16 is provided with a laterally extended flange 22 by which a porcelain thread guide 24 is supported, the thread guide being maintained in position by a strap 26. During normal operation the thread enters the wax receptacle through an opening 27 in the cover plate 4 and passes downwardly through the porcelain thread guide and thence upwardly through the cover and through a stripping device 28 mounted upon the cover and which operates to strip the surplus waX therefrom in the usual manner. Perforated wings 29 extended from the side of the column 16 upon each side of the thread guide 24 serve to effectively prevent lumps of the cold wax which are dropped intol the wax receptacle from coming in Contact with the thread. This construction is simple and eliminates the necessity for the usual strainer plate.

In order to control the heating of the wax` to the end that the portion thereof through which the thread passes during itspassage through the wax receptacle may be maintained between those temperature limits which are most conducive tothe proper impregnation of the thread, a thermostatically operated mechanism is arranged to control the operation of the heating coils 13. In the illustrated construction, this mechanism includes a heat responsive member 30 comprising an expansible coil of metal received within a hollow column 31 secured by screws 32 tothe bottom ofthe cover plate 4 adjacent the column 16. A gasket 34 is interposed between the top of the columns 16 and 31 and serves to seal the interior of the columns from the molten wax within the wax receptacle. The column 31 is spaced sufficiently from the column 16 so that during the operation of the device, the condition and movements of the heat responsive member 30 Y\are controlled directly by the temperature. of the molten wax itself in which the column 31 is partially immersed, and not by direct conduction of heat from the heating coils 13. One end of the metal coil 30 is secured to a bracket 36 received Within the hollow column 31 and secured in fixed relation thereto yby screws 38 (see Fig. 1). The other end of the metal coil is secured b a screw 39 to a vertical shaft 40 journale in laterally extended portions 42, 44 of the bracket 36. From the description thus far it will be observed that variations in the temperature of the wax surrounding or in contact with the exterior of the metal column 3l serve to cause rotation of the vertical shaft 40 in direct accordance with the variation of the wax from a predetermined temperature.

In order to control the heating of the wax in accordance with the movements of the heat responsive member 30 andA of the vertical shaft 40 actuated thereby, the two heating coils 13 are connected in parallel across the feed lines 60, 61, through which electrical energy is supplied from any convenient source (not shown). A `movable switch member is operatively connected, as will be described, with the heating coils 13 and with the vertical shaft 40 in a manner such that in one position of the shaft 40 corresponding to a lower temperaturelimit, both of the heating coils 13 are energized and thereafter when the temperature of the wax has risen to a point such that an upper temperature limit is reached, the shaft 40 will/have been rotated and the movable switch member operated to cut out of circuit one of the heating coils 13. Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 5 and 6, in the illustrated construction, the movable switch member and terminal connections are received within an enclosure 64 formed by side walls 66 upstanding from the cover plate 4 and which enclosure is itself adapted to be closed by a cover 68, as shown in Fig. 1. The movable switch member comprises a U- shaped movable contact member 70 having knife edges 72 upon the end of its arms. The knife edges 72 are received in grooves in the end of arms 76 of a U-shaped bracket 78 'tact member 70 is providedwith contactpoints 80 which are adapted to contact with contact points 82, 83, the contact 83 being of insulating material, upon the ends of adjusting.

screws 84 in the opposed arms 86 of a bracket 88 secured to and insulated from one of the side walls 66, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The movable contact member 70 is actuated by the vertical shaft 40, through a coiled spring 90, one end of which is connected to the movable Contact member 70 and the other end of which is connected to an insulating pin 92 secured in the end of an arm 94 mounted upon the upper end of the vertical shaft 40. In operation, as the vertical shaft 40 is rotated by the heat responsive member 30 in accordance with. variations of temperature of the molten wax, the insulating pin '92 is moved with the arm 94 and the coiled spring 90 operates to cause the movable contact member 70 to snap against either of the contacts 82, 83, accordingly as the spring passes the pivotal point of the movable contact member.

l/Vhenever the temperature of the wax in the wax receptacle falls below the predetermined point at which proper impregnation of the thread occurs, the movable contact member 70 will have been moved into the position illustrated in Fig. 5 in which a circuit is completed through the lead wire 60, lead down through one of the heating coils 13, thence upwardly through the lead 102 to a connecting post 104 electrically'. connected lun with the bracket 88, thence through the bracket to the contact 82, through the movable contact member 70, through the bracket 78 to the connectingpost 106 in a shelf projecting from the bracket 78, and thence through the lead 61 completing the circuit. The second heating coil 13 is in parallel with the foregoing circuit, the connections leading directly to the connecting posts and 106 through the lead wires 108 and 110.v When the temperature of the wax has risen 4to a predetermined point, the arm 94 will have been rotated by the heat responsive member 30 from the position illustrated in Fig. 5 to the pos/ition illustrated in Fig. 6, and during such/rotation, the spring 90 will pass beyond `the knife edges and its tension will operate to suddenly snap the movable contact member 70 against the insulating contact 83. When the movable contact member 70 leaves the contact 82, the heating coil 13, included in the first of the. circuits above referred to, is cut out of circuit and as the movable member 70 is held against the insulating contact 83 this condition continues to exist until the temperature of the wax has fallen to a point such that the return movement of the arm 94 under the contraction of the heat responsive member'30, brings the perature of the wax.

the movable contact member 70, andat such time the movable contact member 1s immediately snapped to the right and again makes contact at the point 82 to throw again. the heating coil into circuit. With this construction of switch it will be observed that there exists a considerable range of temperature within which the movable contact member remains stationary, corresponding to the interval between the movements of the arm 94 from a position in which the movable 'contact member 7 0 makes contact with the contacts 82 and 83, respectively. This feature of construct-ion is conducive to the long life of the contact points and eliminates the occasion for frequent oscillation of the movable contact member upon slight variations in tem- It will also be observed that the exact extent of this range through which the movable vcontact member remains stationary may be adjusted by adjustment of the adjusting screws 84. Thus, for example, the switch may be adjusted sothat the arts will assume the position illustrated in ig. 5

. when a temperature of, say, 220 F.. is

reached, and that the movable Contact member will remain stationary until the temperature of the wax has reached 240 F. At this time the posit-ion of the arm 94 will be such as to cause the movable contact member T() to snap to the left and into Contact with the contact 83. When the temperature drops, following the cutting out of the heating coil 13 in the above outlined manner, the movable contact member 70 continues to remain in this same position until the temperature has again reached 220 F., when the arm 94 will have assumed a position such as to cause the contact member 7 0 to snap to the right.

In order to adjustably determine the limiting temperatures within which it is desired to maintain the wax within the wax receptacle, provision is made for adjusting the position of the arm 94 with relation to the shaft 40. For this purpose the hub of the arm 94 is provided with an enlargement 112, see Figs. 3 and 4, and in which a worm 114 is journaled. The worm engages a worm wheel 116, the latter being secured to the upper end of the shaft 40 by a pin or otherwise. The end of the worm shaft 118 is provided with a hole 120 for the'reception of a tool by which the worm shaft and worm may be rotated. Upon rotation of the worm, the arm 94 is caused to rotate relatively to the shaft 40, thus affording a convenient manner of adjustment of the temperature limits within which it is desired to maintain the wax. After the desired adjustment has been secured, further rotation of the shaft 40 under the influence of the heat responsive member 30 is transmitted through the worm wheel and worm to the arm 94 exactly as if the connection between the shaft 40 and the arm 94 were rigid.

It will be observed that when the maximum temperature limit is reached and one of the heating coils 13 is cut out of circuit, no arcing takes place at the contact points. Furthermore, the construction of the switch itself is such that upon attainment of either the maximum or minimum temperature limits, the coiled spring operates to snap the movable contact member 70 with considerable force, thus insuring quick and positive operation of the switch and a corresponding quick make or break of the circuit.

The thermostat and heating devices of the present thread waxing device are arranged to extend into the wax receptacle so that both are at least partially immersed in the wax. With this arrangement, the thermostat is rendered very sensitive to variations in the temperature of the wax, and because of the fact that both the thread and the thermostat are located close to the heating device, the wax through which the thread passes is maintained at the proper temperature for application to the thread.

The thermostatically operated switch herein disclosed forms the subject matter of a separate application filed of even date herewith.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed is l. A thread waxing device having, in combinationY a wax receptacle, a heating device extending downwardly into the receptacle, a support for the heating deviceabove the level of the wax and separate from the wax receptacle, means for guiding the thread through the receptacle in proximity to the heating device, and a thermostat mounted on the support and extending into the wax for controlling the temperature of the heating device.

2. A thread waxing device having, in combination, a wax receptacle, a heating device extending vertically downward into the receptacle, a support for the heating device above the level of the wax and separate from the wax receptacle, a member responsive to the heat of the wax having a portion extending into the receptacle and separated by the wax from said heating unit, and mechanism actuated by the heat responsive member for controlling the temperature of the heating device.

3. A thread waxing device having, in combination, a wax receptacle, means for heating the wax including an electric heating coil, a hollow vertically arranged column extending into the receptacle and in which the heating coil is received, means for thermostatically controlling the operation of the heating coil including a heat responsive member, a vertically arranged column in which the heat responsive member is received and a switch operatlvely connected with the heat responsive member and electric heating coil.

4. A thread waxing device comprising a receptacle for containing the wax, means for lUO heating the Wax including two electric heating coils connected in parallel, and means controlled by the temperature of the wax for cutting one of the coils in and out of circuit to control the temperature-of the Wax.

5. A thread waxing device comprising a receptacle for containing the wax, means for heating the Wax including two electric heating coils connected in parallel and a thermostatically operate-d switch for cutting one of the coils in and out of circuit. i

6. A thread waxing device comprising a receptacle for containing the Wax, means for heating the Wax including two electric heating coils connected in parallel, and a thermostatically operated switch arranged t cut one of the coils out of circuit when the temperature of the Wax reaches a maximum limit and to cut the coil into circuit when the temperature of the wax drops to a minimum different limit. f

7 A thread waxing device having, in combination, a wax receptacle, means for'heating the wax including an elect-ric heating' coil, means for thermostatically controlling the operation ,of the heating coil including a heat responsive member, a vertically arranged column in whichthe heat responsive member is received and a switch operatively'connected with the heat responsive member and electric heating coil. y

8.I A thread waxing device having, in combination, a waxv receptacle, means for heating the wax including an electric heating coil, means for thermostatically controlling the operation of the heating coil including a heat responsive member immersed in the wax and a switch operatively connected with the heat responsive member and electric heating coil.

9. A thread waxing device comprising a receptacle for containing the wax, means for heating the wax including an electric heating coil, and a thermos/tatically operated switch arranged to cut the coil out of circuit when the temperature of the wax reaches a maximum limit and to cut the coil into circuit when the temperature of the wax drops to arminimum different limit.

10. A thread waxing device comprising a receptacle for containing the wax, means for heating the wax including an electric heating coil, and a thermostatically operated switch arranged to cut the coil outv of circuit when the temperature of the wax. reaches a maximum limit and to cut the coil into circuit when the temperature of the wax drops to a minimum diierent limit, and means for adjusting the extent 'of the temperature range l between said limits.

1l. A thread waxing devlce comprising a receptacle for containing the wax, means for heating the wax including an electric-heating y coil, and a thermostatically operated switch arranged to cut the coil out of circuit when the temperature of the wax reaches a maxif EUGENE J. RAY. 

